Surreal Inked Illustrations Combine Animals with Celestial Patterns

Last year, we were wild about artist Kerby Rosanes‘ geometry-inspired animal sketches. Now, the illustrator is back with a new space-inspired series that pairs surreal creatures with galactic patterns, culminating in a collection of animal illustrations that will leave you starry-eyed.

Like his past work, Rosanes’ recent cosmic composites are illustrated in multiliner pens and kept safe in Moleskine notebooks. Though rendered in a way that is reminiscent of doodling, each piece features an extraordinary amount of detail. This attention to intricacy is evident in everything from the creatures’ delicately rendered fur, feathers, scales, and skin to the galactic patterns that offset them. Furthermore, these space-inspired designs are creatively incorporated into each illustration, either as a mesmerizing backdrop or as the animals—both real and imagined—themselves.

To dream up his quirky content, Rosanes relies purely on creative thinking, describing his work as a manifestation of “the weird things I imagine.” Though this fantastical approach is particularly apparent in his galactic animal drawings, it is also present in his other projects, including fairytale-inspired sketches, pop culture pieces, astrological studies, and his ongoing Geometric Beasts series. No matter the subject, however, the artist continues to wow his awe-struck audiences with his whimsical work, which he shares on Instagram and sells on Society6 as prints, cards, and more.